Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan.20 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
The Georgian government didn't pay a ransom for the release of 15 Georgian and three Turkish sailors from Somali pirate captivity, chairman of joint trade unions of Georgia Irakli Petriashvili said. At the same time, Somali sources say Georgia paid pirates $3 million for the release of the sailors.
"The Georgian government did really play a significant role in the release of the sailors and trade unions express their gratitude for this," Mr Petriashvili told reporters.
"I rarely express gratitude to the authorities, but now it is obvious they contributed greatly. Money was paid but not by the government. I cannot say yet who paid the ransom because I'm not entitled to disclose confidential information. We will explain everything after Feb.15 when a law suit against the company-ship owner which didn't pay the sailors' wages for 10-11 months is ready," Mr Petriashivili said.